Obama Snubs DLC

For those who are upset with Obama for "moving to the center", here's something to be excited about:

The centrist Democratic Leadership Council holds its national meeting in Chicago -- just a block away from Sen. Barack Obama's campaign headquarters. However, Obama will not attend.

Even though the Illinois senator has moved to the center on so many issues in recent weeks, he's not willing to incur the wrath of liberal Democrats by speaking at the convention of the group described by many as "Republican-lite."

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/politicalinsider/2008/06/the-slow-death-of-the-dlc.html

So he is still listening to us...good to know that he still cares to some degree about not offending us.

is the correct term!

so what?

so THAT's 'so what'. nt

Now, he needs to take the lead and oppose this FISA bill or remove the anti-4th Amenedment and telecom immunity provisions.

Those three letters may be poison to many on the left, but if you remove them from the equation, the policies and politicians of the DLC as still quite relevant. Perhaps more so than ever. Consider:

1. A great number of those on Obama's (supposed) VP shortlists are DLC. If Obama's administration (should he win) is successful, there's great chance the Democratic nominee and president in 2016 will be DLC.

2. Close to half of the the new Democratic congressmen elected in 2006 joined the DLC, giving them, perhaps, their biggest presence in the House in a decade.

3. The top three most likely US Senate seats Democrats are set to win this year will go to a DLC member, giving them their biggest presence in the senate in over a decade.

4. Obama hasn't moved to the center just lately. His book "The Audacity Of Hope" is full of third-way new Democrat policy utterings, from private companion social security accounts to welfare reform.

Obama is a smart politician. He knows what policies work but he knows not to tick off the left of the party who, it seems, can't see beyond those three letters - DLC.

We're not supposed to talk about that, lest we inspire snide, sophomoric cracks about our "concern," but it is nonetheless true that Austan Goolsbee is on both teams.

And hopefully by then, this party will be completely healed from the damage they have done.

Look, I know it's become the norm for the netrots to just ignore contrary evidence and just repeat their tripe louder, but I'll take the logic of this thread a bit further:

Obama SNUBS State of the Black Union:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/23/obama.sobu/index.html

Obama SNUBS Dr. King Memorial In Memphis:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cornel-west/on-obama-not-going-to-mem_b_95179.html?page=4

has Obama snubbed the CBC? The DLC pretends to represent the leadership of the Democratic Party. It is a product of the Clinton Administration. It seems like a fairly big deal, now that Obama and Clinton are 'united', that he won't be participating in a meeting of the "movers and shakers" from previous Democratic administration.

The DLC pretends to represent the leadership of the Democratic Party.

No they don't. They've just been an incredibly successful think tank and many (including Obama) have borrowed heavily from them.

It is a product of the Clinton Administration.

It was established in 1985.

Actually, PPI (Progressive Policy Institute) is the thinktank for the DLC and Will Marshall was one of its founders. According to the PPI website:

http://www.ppionline.org/ppi_ci.cfm?knlgAreaID=87&subsecID=112&contentID=1100



So you see, the thinktank you speak of is described as "Bill Clinton's idea mill" by no less than the website for said thinktank.

The PPI is the policy arm of the DLC.

As Policy director, From worked with countless Dems across the country, Clinton being just one.

The PPI was the "idea mill" for countless Dems, not just Bill Clinton.

The DLC began, as early as 1985, in putting together strategies to counter the success of the popularity of Ronald Reagan and his fellow Republicans' reign. No matter how you feel about Reagan's policies, you cannot deny that he enjoyed popularity. Much of these new Democratic strategies involved compromise and triangulation, in other words, moving the Democrats to the right.

These new strategies were put into practice for Clinton's campaign where he successfully presided for 8 years, even when faced with impeachment for his personal behavior. These ideas were also put into practice for other Dems, but as the PPI website itself touts, it enjoyed its greatest success with Bill Clinton.

As another poster on this thread has pointed out, the DLC strategies did not work so well with Gore and Kerry, even when faced with a relatively weak Republican opponent. Now, after 8 years of the most disastrous Republican administration in the history of the US, Democrats are faced with a completely different scenario. The American public now demands change and those Democrats who have become addicted to the strategies of the DLC must change as well.

They did that with Gore --- they did it with Kerry ---

And . . . no there's another name behind the start up of this corporate-sponsored DLC . . .

we've had the story at DU quite recently . . .

Gore and Clinton are founding members . . . but not the founders.

More interesting story behind this ---


But . . . Gore did end up brushing them off --- too late!

And, AGAIN ... THE DLC IS THE CORPORATE-SPONSORED WING OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY . . .
SET UP TO MOVE THE PARTY TO THE R I G H T . . . !!!

Gore won the presidental race,just like John Kerry but each time it was stolen

Gore got more votes than any Dem in history up to that time. Kerry beat that record.

Factually speaking, you're wrong on every point.

And . . . no there's another name behind the start up of this corporate-sponsored DLC . . .

Yes, there was. It was called the CPE - Committee on Party Effectiveness.

Gore and Clinton are founding members . . . but not the founders.

No, Bill Clinton was not a founding member. DLC was officially created in 1985. Clinton was not a member until late 1986.

But . . . Gore did end up brushing them off --- too late!

No, he decided not to run on Clinton's economic record. Too bad!!

And, AGAIN ... THE DLC IS THE CORPORATE-SPONSORED WING OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY . . .
SET UP TO MOVE THE PARTY TO THE R I G H T . . . !!!

Wrong again. Most high profile Democrats have benefited from the corporate Democratic Business Council, set up by the DNC a full half decade before the DLC, and which takes all manner of corporate money. The DLC was set up to move the party back to the center after crushing losses set off by the leftwing.

Didn't Obama just have a meeting in the past two weeks with the MONEY MEN . . . ???

Clintons and a whole bunch more . . . no press, no citizens --- but lottsa MONEY MEN . . . ???

many top economists support Obama. One point, I think some may be coming around to the notion that deregulation may not be good for the long-term economy.

One reason for working with the Clintons is to help raise money to pay off their campaign debt in return for gaining more of the support from their following.

I'll concede that Obama is only human. If his broad base of support takes their eyes off the ball then he could begin to regress into a typical compromised politician. It's up to us to continue giving him that support, and I don't mean just financial.

Damn kids with their new fangled intertubes! Get Off Mah Lawn!

You are a funny old man.

You're are a bitter old man.

Because that's all ya have! :rofl:

You'd have been a horrible politician.

Thank God for the good sense of the American voter! :patriot:

Why would *I* pout about *your* lousy choices?

DLC booster mockingly calls someone a 'little revolutionary'

You undermine any good point you may accidentally make with some grumpy, venomous, snide little nickname you either made up or picked up on some left-bashing site.

Moochy - I honestly have no idea why your type believes they can insult with impunity. You always seem shocked when you get the same treatment thrown back at you.

Another fine tactic championed by your fearless, and ethicless leader.

PS. Can we still buy any Wyldwolf political schwag (mugs, t-shirts) anywhere? To help with your millions in debt?

I'm full now :P, where's the dessert bar?

will have moved to THe Third Way.
A "non-partisan" group of "progressives".:puke:

These protestors were Democrats carrying a giant BACKBONE!

What a snubbity snob-snub-snob.

very good

all talking about the long-term impact on his Presidency, and not fretting about principles over politics...

If what he/she wanted was posts and recs.

Lots of folks pretending that group isn't on the same path the neo-cons are.

:woohoo:
:woohoo:

(didn't want to disappoint you, RQ.)

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

p.s. Actual position points touted on the DLC website (see if you can spot the obvious neo-con agenda):

* Cutting Wasteful Corporate Subsidies
* A new, performance-based American Dream Grant that will award states $150 billion over 10 years to reduce tuition and increase graduation rates.
* Helping Non-Traditional Students Succeed
* Increase competitiveness in Congressional elections (see Gerymandering the Vote: How a "Dirty Dozen" states suppress as many as 9 million voters.
* Targeting Illegal Tax Shelters
* Balancing Budgets Responsibly
* Building Clean Cars
* A Blueprint for Greener Buildings
* Enrolling Uninsured Children at School
* Military Families' Bill of Rights
* Earned Income Tax Credit

Yup, yup, as you can see, the DLC are Nazis, one and all.

"Let's pass FISA."

"Cheering the progress in Iraq"

"Towards the hydrogen economy"

"More evidence on sex, violence, media and children"

"grading teachers"

asserting that those opposed to these practices are not "reality based," belies the fact that Centrism as a function of corruption; led us into 7 years of needless warfare, nearly 4500 dead Americans, many thousands more disabled for life, untold hundreds of thousands of dead and disabled civilians.... is doubtlessly the reason for our continued dependence on imported energy... and your megapharm/insurance industry "competitive" medical care plans suck ass... hand an even larger chunk of the American family's meager income to the Rockefellers of this world.

Yeah... you probably are a fucking Nazi... I dunno... YOU brought it up.

As for your list... big fucking deal. Example:

"Build Clean Cars"

You mean as in the outside surface of the car or the interior. Sounds pretty and Progressive like "Clean Coal". And for some reason I'm thing this "clean car" get's very little more in mileage. If they really wanted to do something, they could have helped to impeach Bush instead of stroke him, protect him and give him all he wanted.

You may have fooled yourself, but you won't fool me one bit. Corporate sellouts are corporate sellouts... no different from the Republicans who represent the wealthy first and foremost.

...then they're not for you.

But guess what, "fascisthunter" - you don't get to make up your own facts.

Here is their Progressive Energy Policy cribbed right off their website:

America is in the midst of a long-term energy crisis. The country's addiction to carbon-based fuels -- especially imported oil -- poses a triple threat to national security, economic vitality, and environmental health. Modernizing the country's energy policies, while not easy, has the potential to generate immense benefits for the environment and economy alike. To put it simply, clean energy technology -- "cleantech" -- could become the next great engine of the U.S. economy, generating jobs and economic opportunities on a transformative scale. The following proposals outline a set of progressive energy policies that -- in combination with a dramatic investment in cleantech -- could propel the economy and protect the environment:

Invest in clean technology. Creating the technology, the physical infrastructure, and the myriad support networks for a new energy grid would generate billions of dollars in new economic activity and put untold thousands of people to work in new jobs.

Cap carbon now. Congress should cap carbon emissions through a "cap-and-trade" system, creating a profit incentive for companies to burn less oil and other fossil fuels.

Replace fuel economy standards with "tailpipe trading." Congress should replace the outdated and unsuccessful Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, which measure the miles a car gets per gallon, with a tailpipe trading system that measures the pollutants emitted by each vehicle. Doing this would give automakers an economic incentive to make vehicles that produce less carbon dioxide.

Aggressively expand the use of renewable energy. Congress should create a national renewable portfolio standard for electric utilities that would expand the use of renewable energies and provide a more uniform system for renewable power such as wind, solar power, and geo-thermal heat.

They're also for things that I'm sure you'd hate: like nuclear power and "clean coal" (which is still better than dirty coal). So I'm sure you still hate them.

But still, even though their girl Hillary lost, they're not throwing a hissy fit and spitting bile at Obama.

Which is more than anyone can say about most DUers.

He's now stumping for McCain.

who abuse their ability to make money without giving back to the system they leached off of. A bit of socialism is very healthy for a country, I have proof to back me up. You have..... well you have a massive debt and wars....

Actually, we agree on at least two: I opposed the Iraq war from the start. It was a ridiculous waste of money, a
distraction from hunting down Al Qeada operatives, and no matter what the "intelligence" was coming out of the Bush
Whitehouse controlled CIA, there was no clear and present danger - only smoke and mirrors.

Oh, and Al From is unnecessarily divisive. He loves to get attention by stirring political hornet's nests, trying
to divide the Democratic party so he can pursue his own little vision of it. (Really, he'd fit right in here.)

But I find it rather laughable that you're the kind of guy who reflexively supports the idea of Barack Obama meeting
with thuggish autocrats, but can't even bring yourself to gather a little information about one of the other political
corners of our own party. Instead, like the neocons you so despise, you content yourself with making up stories
to yourself (and others) about people you dislike. The DLC have ceased to be real people in your mind, and are instead
a terrible boogey-man, a symbol to be railed against, and never to be learned about lest that terrible knowledge
corrupt you.

One way of knowing you've reached political maturity, is when you stop saying my opponents are evil, and start saying my opponents are wrong.

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

Your so-called "Reality-Based" bubble has been popped by ongoing events in the Middle East. Talking to said enemies is smart and it's what saves lives. Your method is what got us into this situation in the first place and could get us into a mess with Iran as well as many other oil rich countries around the World. Your subjective method of not talking to others is what leads to more wars not less.


Welcome to reality, outside of your bubble.

"- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community"

Really?

I am also for Barack Obama talking to our enemies. Never hurts.

You just fail to see how your own bashing of the DLC - without even knowing
even the basics about them - so perfectly mirrors the attitude of Republicans.

You want us to talk to tyrants who brutally repress their own people. But talk
to the DLC? Heaven forbid!

It's typical. *sigh* Extremists can see everyone else's extremism other than their own.

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

It's like kabuki theater though, with your screen name, calling out fascisthunter with air quotes... too rich.

* Cutting Wasteful Corporate Subsidies

Let me guess, a bi-partisan board gets to define what "Wasteful" means on a case-by-case basis.

* A new, performance-based American Dream Grant that will award states $150 billion over 10 years to reduce tuition and increase graduation rates.

Why use indirect incentives, and not a simpler direct grant to the states? Oh that's right the education lobby can get more control of how the money is spent at the local level.

* Helping Non-Traditional Students Succeed
Is this code for adult education? Not familiar with this double plus good term...

* Increase competitiveness in Congressional elections (see Gerymandering the Vote: How a "Dirty Dozen" states suppress as many as 9 million voters.
Let me guess more bipartisan de-gerrymandering commissions to draw the new map boundaries?

* Targeting Illegal Tax Shelters
* Balancing Budgets Responsibly
* Building Clean Cars
* A Blueprint for Greener Buildings
* Enrolling Uninsured Children at School
* Military Families' Bill of Rights
* Earned Income Tax Credit

These all seem OK to me. but the devil is in the details. DLC types tend to dilute the good they accomplish in the legislature with political payout to their center/right allies.

I mean seriously. I don't understand it. I don't agree with everything they say,
but the way the Kucinich types think about the DLC, it's like asking Baptists to go
read up on Darwinism. .....oooooh that's devil talk! don't you read it if you
want to keep your soul!!!

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

I was responding to your post then you scold me for not reading the site you copied it from?

More like a "Proud member of the Low Information Voter Based community"

I'm not them. And I'm not you. All I'm saying is if you want answers, go read it yourself.

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

He hasn't forgotten what they said about him in the primaries--and he knows their mortal enemy is his base.

His platform fits them like a glove, and it always has. Obama has used his "not dlc" appearance to garner the support of liberal democrats, while promoting a dlc-friendly platform. It's worked well for him.

Why would he change that?

Centrism as a function of pragmatism is old school politics and not dishonorable... a completely different creature


Happy snarking

Lets see how things role 12months into his Presidency, then we'll get an easy gauge as to what he's really all about.

Well raystorm7 if you and others keep bashing Obama there will not even be a 1st month into Presidency,not even a day.:(

depends on two factors: how many votes he earns, and whether or not election fraud comes into play.

It's not an "attack" to point out that his centrism is consistent, has been all along, and that it is many of his supporters that have mischaracterized him as something other than centrist. I don't think he's pretended any differently.

Are you saying he can't win if people don't falsely believe that he's more liberal than he is?

A good candidate doesn't need false perception to win.

What country do you live in?

that truth is a casualty, and we all need to embrace liars and lying to "win?"

I don't think so. Regardless of the level of corruption of the system, I think you value honesty, straightforwardness, and "walking the talk." Tell me if I'm mistaken.

It's not the country I'm in that matters, but how I live and act in that country.

I'm going to "be the change I wish to see." Since one of the changes I wish to see is politicians with those qualities of honesty, straightforwardness, and "walking the talk," I'm going to hold every politician to that standard.

That also means I'm going to be honest, straightforward, and walk my own talk, even when it doesn't reflect well on a party or a politician.

I'd like to invite you to remind me when "straightforwardness" becomes aggression, which is counter-productive. I'm the first to admit that my own bitterness over the entire mess leads me to step over the line of courtesy, some days more frequently than others.

Today is one of those days. Hearing Democrats suddenly dismayed by something Obama says or does, when he's been consistently centrist leaning right all along, triggers rage and frustration that voters didn't manage to notice that, even when it was pointed out repeatedly, when it counted: last January/February.

Hearing Democrats spin and excuse FISA and faith-based government just sickens me.

Feel free to step in and remind me to breathe, and to take a break, when dissent on my part becomes too strident.

If you think that most Americans enjoy thinking, I think you are sadly mistaken.

It's not how your or I act. This is a general election, and votes matter... not us, how we live, how we act, or anything else... it all amounts to nothing if we don't get a dem in the WH.

I'd rather it was a more Kucinich-y Dem. But I'd also rather a whole lot of other things. In the end it all comes down to who we want in the WH. Obama or McCain. That's *all* this forum is about.

I probably should stay out of GDP. Of course, with all of the election threads that now proliferate in GD, it's hard to remember.

This forum is MOSTLY about getting Obama elected. If it's not also about the Democratic platform, as we head to the convention, then having a convention at all seems redundant.

It's too late to affect the platform AFTER the election is over.

Heh, that's a whole other ball of wax, isn't it?

:pals:

*sigh*

If you can think of a more productive way to press Obama and the party to move that platform left than howling in outrage when he talks to the right, tell me. I'd rather be productive than just rant.

As a matter of fact, that might be a productive OP topic all on it's own...how do we effectively achieve that shift now without derailing the campaign?

the platform doesn't have much if anything to do with Obama.

Isn't it the delegates at the convention who vote on the changes?

So... changing the platform... that stuff needs to be directed at the national delegates as they'll be the ones voting on it.

As for pressing Obama... eh. The outrage from the left in blogs that are cited by the M$M helps to show him as no hostage to the 'far left' to the unthinking masses... so that's a bright side.

But the stuff here... I think it just demoralizes activists... IMO we need to bolster support, not give people (potential volunteers) reasons to drag their feet, not volunteer, etc.

If the delegates at the convention vote for changes to the platform that differs with Obama's policy statements, does he have to honor the platform?

That's what it has to do with him. As the president, he's supposed to support efforts to enact the party platform.

Would that create more powerful pressure to shift than hearing directly from individuals?

Clinton did his whole "we'll put you in jail!" schtick after CA passed medical marijuana laws.

If that didn't say it all I dunno what does.

We just have to do the best we can, and hope. :)

that usually gets them to make a U turn on their positions --- !!!

however, agreeing with wiretapping is not a "center" position ---

attacks on our Constitution don't come from anyone's "center" they come from the right.


On the other hand, I'm glad we're getting out in the open more with the DLC poison

within the party.

he ventured onto the FOX news channel. Come on! I wouldn't read too much into this.

shouting and directing all their hate towards Hillary, They were so sure Hillary would absolutely be the Dem nominee four years ago and so did many Democrats, the same DLC fucks and Clifton supporters, Carville, Emaneul, Ford & Terry Mcauliffe, was all about very importantly getting control of the DNC - with I assume, James Carville taking over as the new head of the DNC - that would of gone even further to ensured a victory for Clinton as the nominee .....But....Howard Dean with his 2006, 50 state strategy, that James Carville, Rahm Emanuel and the rest of the DLC didn't want, screamed at Dean about it ....The DLC wanted more DNC money for DLC candidates and only wanted sure winning Dem candidates around the country to receive DNC money....

Howard Dean basically said, fuck you to the DLC and put his 50 state strategy to work and the DLC continued to scream.....Dean decided to put money in every Dem race including Democrats facing republicans in tough, republican "safe" districts....And, it paid off for the democrats, even with later exposed thefts by the republicans, stolen with electronic voting machines in various close races in districts around the country. Still, the strategy paid off and the democrats won control of congress....I believe the DLC wanted to see their candidates win and the republicans still control congress...WHY? Because that would positively gotten Howard Dean tossed from the DNC and the DLC Carville was planning and absolute going to be the next DNC head which would ensure Hillary as the Dem nominee....This was all talked about openly before the 2006 elections (that Carville wanted to head the DNC ) and after the 2006 elections if you recall Carville started going nuts, trashing Howard Dean every chance he got on TV, radio & print..... However Carville had no real case against Dean. Dean fool everyone, including the DLC with his decision to go with a 50 state strategy, going a long way for the Dems winning back Congress again....it also made Carville and the DLC wanting Dean gone lose steam, Carvilles screaming started to fade, people were justifiably happy with Dean and the "50 state strategy"....but it did fucked up the Clinton -DLC plan and Obama was allowed to rise and take on Hillary, and in the end Obama was too much and that was it for Hillary....

And now Hillary supporters want to put ALL the balme on Howard Dean because of FL & MI didn't play by the rules and wanted to change things when they didn't succeed, and it was Hillary's last gasp and the fools want to blame everyone else, all Hillary's fuck-ups, her foul-ups, slip-ups, money problems and media problems on Dean, and Obama....Never for an instant thinking Obama just might be the better candidate, speaker, campaigner, politician with a better platform * idea's....And that may never occur to her angry supporters, they need to blame others for their pain of losing.

Remember in their minds as in many others (including the DLC) Hillary was going to be the Dem nominee. She was expected to having won it before it really ever got started..... the republicans were completely battle ready, waiting and expecting Hillary to be the nominee, even to many democratic voters it was a foregone conclusion that it would indeed be Hillary as the Dem nominee, (though she did come close) she was supposed to just kick ass and walk away with the nomination and blow every one else out of the water....

Two things happened in my opinion, one was Howard Dean's 50 state winning strategy in 2006 keeping the DLC from controlling the DNC and ultimately the democratic party the and the undeniable strong anti-Hillary sentiment among many Democratic voters.

For four years republicans had plans to attack Hillary as a "liberal" democrat, as a "Clinton" and as a woman.... after four years of planning the republicans were ready methodically going to take apart Clinton.

And Obama was strong enough to go against the very powerful Clinton machine, it was a made for television soap opera, however not anticipated, Obama was able to attract huge amounts of contributions to help him create a big enough machine to compete with Clinton's...Something John Edwards was never able to do, getting almost no television exposure (except negative) Edwards wasn't who the media nor the powers that control it wanted to do battle with Hillary, because Edwards could very well win that battle (and like Obama no doubt would have)....anyway, a black Senator makes good ratings and how much of a threat or problem can he be for the republicans, the DLC, the Clintons, or even to some democrats....

But Obama fooled them all. The republicans now have to hurriedly deal with Obama.....when they were four years ready for Clinton which has been obvious....when all they have been doing so far is feebly throwing up peripheral shit via their slimy backdoor "leaks" lies and distortions, disgusting remarks about the Obama's race and lies about their religion...things like Obama is black, remember that now folks, Obama is Black, a Negro, colored, and his wife calls people "whitey" - Obama is a Muslim and believes in what Osama bin Laden preaches....very basic racist bullshit so far to get the ball rolling and people thinking so when the republicans pull out the real ugly bullshit people will be listening.... the republicans are not yet in full attack mode, they are changing gears for Obama....but count on it getting so mean and ugly, ridiculous nauseating, distasteful and revolting attacks against Obama that have yet to begin....

Of course republican John McCain will NEVER utter a racist remark, towards Obama ever. He'll have others in the republican party do it for him and the many republican racist will be more than excited to do it. Republican McCain in public will even scold the racist remarks made against Obama, McCain will say the negative attacks & race should have no place in this election..... Complete bullshit! McCain and his handlers know very well that it's being done in the background for his benefit. Also knowing McCain can't do it himself and can never ever be linked or associated with it....But anyone even with a little brains knows McBush is a fucking republican and he'll say and do anything to become to become president representing the Fascist-Republican Party of America.

The republican plan is to put doubt in white moderates and some white democrats heads that Obama as an African-American man, may just be more loyal to Muslin's and Muslin countries than the US, As well as through the republicans usual route, FEAR, creating that same doubt that Obama would allow "Muslin terrorist" to run amok in the US....Sound crazy to politically astute democrats now, but just watch as it unfolds in the coming month's, the absolute horrible disgusting shit the republicans will toss up there behind the scenes.....you thought the swift-boaters lying about Kerry was bad.....you haven't seen nothing yet from these very desperate racist republicans ...Republicans know that character assassination & attacks win elections, the only people it turns off and decide not to vote is idiot Democrats who can't see that's exactly what the republicans want to happen, republicans urge Democrats to play fair and avoid attacks and the democrats dutifully do so.

The republicans plan is simple, keep the race close. Use the race card, find ways to bring out & exploit racism in many, many voters - gullible ignorant Americans will believe the lying manipulated polls each week, showing it's a close race & getting tighter (keeping it close enough to steal) as well as the corporate controlled media spewing out republican propaganda shamelessly. But what will switch the race around is the extremely easily hackable republican owned electronic voting machines counting, that more than 90% of the votes across the country will be "counted", with no way to check if the democrat's votes have been switch, or even counted, more votes added for republicans in places, more votes counted than actual voters in some places, voting machines breaking down, fewer machines and longer waits in strong democratic areas, overseas & military votes being tampered with, some having to show state photo Id's in order to vote - and all the above, will pull out another razor-thin stolen third term for republican McBush....keeping the fascist-corporate republican dream alive and moving right on along

if you are put off by his disarming of the MSM stop watching. He will play the next few months very carefully working hard not to give the MSM something to cling to to bring him down. This will require a lot of less than lefty responses. Go back and look at his record. He is plenty lefty and plenty consitent in his votes and deeds.

He is trying to win in an environment where the MSM is looking for any excuse to try and make this a race.

Obama did not push for the issue to come up...the blue dogs/DLC did.

They seem to think that now was just about the right time to try to put a wedge into the party. The DLC specializes in weakening the Democratic party. Why? Because a sharply divided Congress and a sharply divided nation puts them in the catbird seat. They can run the party by threatening the progressives with voting Republican...hindering the needs of the American people and amplifying the voices of the corporations.

Obama would make a grave mistake in supporting this legislation, playing right into DLC hands. I am glad that he didn't attend the DLC meeting, but attending a meeting and voting with them on policy issues are apples and oranges to me.

right - and still can. But don't blame the DLC.

They were the ones making the backroom deals and twisting the leadership's arms to force a vote for this. They put Obama in this position.

And it will be the DLC that votes with Republicans to get this legislation passed, too. Obama would make a grave mistake in going along, but he has not yet....just signaled he might. The DLC has already played their hand when they voted for cloture.

Obama caving is another issue, but the impetus was generated by our illustrious conservative Democrats...the blue dogs and DLC.

Obama's feet aren't the only ones in the fire, you know.

Going Nowhere: The DLC Sputters to a Halt

by Ari Berman
from the March 21, 2005 issue of The Nation

:hi:

Read.

Cop out.

If it's done right once, that's enough.

I see that you don't really care to find out. SO not surprised.

I see you don't really have the knowledge to explain it. SO not surprised.

:rofl:

:hi:

It's cute how you call it a 'charge' though. :)

What's really funny is how oblivious you appear to be. I thought most Dems were familiar with Wellstone... you know, the guy from the Democratic wing of the party.

Oh well... live and learn!

What's hysterical is how given you are to "progressive" myth.

Sure. Yeah. I did that.

As for making the "charge" that Wellstone did, and that the poster you replied to repeated... heh.

RIF... and comprehension counts!

No, I told you where you could find it IF YOU CARED.

Good riddance.

Someone says an apple is square.

I ask for verification.

You say "it's in such and such book, look it up."

THAT is giving credence to the contention the apple is square.

He asked to be removed from their list when someone found his name had been put on their website without his knowledge.

He's probably not going to be in Chicago those days. I mean who knows? I'm guessing that there is a better than even chance that Obama will put a DLCer on the ticket.

Good for Barack.